Technology is a powerful tool. But without the right IT solutions, you might not be getting the most out of your technology.

Put the right tech in the right places and your team can do things it never dreamed of. You can take your abilities further than you ever thought possible. And your business can change things for the better all around.

But finding the right tech is easier said than done.

There are so many options out there that it can seem nearly impossible to get exactly what you need out of technology.

How do you know which tools are right for your team? How do you know what tech will fit your business not only now … but a year or two or five down the line? And how do you know what kind of IT solutions will give you the competitive edge you so desperately need?

These are important questions — and the answers to questions like these can help you improve productivity three, four, even five times over and grow your business results in the process.

So to help you out and steer you in the right direction, we’ve put together a helpful guide to productivity through technology. This guide will help you identify, maintain, and leverage the right technology in the right places.

How do I find the right technology?

It seems like a simple question, right? And to be honest, depending on how you go about answering this question, it can be very simple.

Here’s what you need to know:

Don’t be afraid to take risks.

First things first, you should never be afraid to take risks with your technology.

Now, this doesn’t mean you should jump feet first into every new tech trend that emerges. But it does mean you shouldn’t be afraid to change.

Hunt down new apps, software, hardware, and gadgets that can set you above the competition and use them to your advantage. Just because you’ve been doing things well with XYZ tech doesn’t mean ABC tech shouldn’t be looked into.

Get some good advice.

Again, let’s not jump feet first into anything. And just because we say new tech needs to be “hunted down” doesn’t mean you need to do the hunting.

Get some advice. Seek out a professional. And do things the smart way.

IT consultants are great for this. They work with technology all day every day, and they know what works, what doesn’t work, and what’s coming up.

Check out this article to learn more about what an IT consultant can do for your business.

Create a partnership.

If you really want your technology to work for your business, then you need to start thinking long term. You need a technology partner that is willing to stick with you, see things through, and find the best IT solutions for your business.

A managed service provider (MSP) fits this bill perfectly. An MSP is your all-access pass to IT support, maintenance, and guidance. You can learn more about managed service providers here.

How do I maintain my technology?

So you have the right technology, but what now?

How do you keep it healthy? How do you keep it current? How do you keep it working for you and not the other way around?

Here are a few helpful tips to get you started:

Train your employees.

You don’t have anything if you don’t have your employees. This includes their support.

Think proactively.

Again, an MSP is your all-access pass to everything IT — and this is all built around a proactive approach to IT. They prevent IT issues from happening — which helps your team avoid downtime and maintain productivity.

How do I keep my technology current?

After you find the right technology and develop a strategy to keep it healthy, there’s still something else you need to consider:

What happens when the technology you’re currently using becomes outdated? How do you make sure your technology can scale up or down with your business? Good IT solutions should include a plan for the future to keep your business up-to-date and competitive.

The more you can account for tech trends, changes, and progressions, the more likely it is you can remain competitive (and successful as a whole).

Here are a few helpful pointers:

Do your homework.

You don’t know what you don’t know, and IT solutions are all about the strategy.

As mentioned previously, an IT consultant can help with this — but to be truly successful through technology, you need to take things a step further.

Make the effort to become familiar with how technology currently impacts your business (and also how new technology could impact your business). An experienced IT consultant can help with this. They can direct you to high-quality resources that can keep you (and your entire company) up-to-date with tech trends.